University of Kansas receives national fundraising award

Dale Seuferling

The University of Kansas is one of only seven public research/doctoral universities nationwide to receive a 2012 Educational Fundraising Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), recognizing exceptional development programs.

“This award is a mark of excellence and I want to congratulate the staff of KU Endowment on earning this honor,” said Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. “Through their work with our generous donors, they help make it possible to offer scholarships to students and foster outstanding teaching and research by our faculty.”

KU received an Overall Performance Award following analysis of three years of fundraising success from 2009 to 2011. Recipient institutions do not apply for the award, rather judges select winners by comparing national data. Judges considered the growth in total support, influence of the 12 largest gifts on total support, growth in each program area and other criteria. Donations to KU Endowment for the benefit of KU and The University of Kansas Hospital broke records in that time period: $106.4 million in fiscal 2009, $122.4 million in fiscal 2010, and $153.2 million in fiscal 2011. These gifts count toward Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas, a $1.2 billion comprehensive campaign that publicly kicked off in April.

“This award is a tribute to the dedication, hard work and professionalism of the staff,” said KU Endowment President Dale Seuferling. “I’m thankful to our generous donors for their commitment to KU, which has made possible not only our fundraising success, but also this prestigious award. It’s particularly gratifying that we are recognized for success during years of economic uncertainty.”

Among public research universities, KU was joined by awardees Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of California-Berkeley, the University of California-Los Angeles, Indiana University-Bloomington, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Texas at Austin.

“The University of Kansas has not only demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism and best practice in its fundraising efforts, it has contributed to the betterment of educational advancement worldwide,” said CASE President John Lippincott.

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university. The University of Kansas Hospital is a partner in philanthropy with KU Endowment.